Aberdeenshire committee agrees options to increase flexibility for early learning and childcare
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Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee approved plans for the introduction of an additional term for Early Years so more children and families can benefit from the Scottish Government’s expansion of fully funded 1140 additional hours of early learning and childcare.
According to a report presented to the committee, a total of 443 children would benefit from the additional term which would translate as 240 hours of fully funded early learning and childcare over the duration of the additional term.
Advantages of the additional term include a reduction of children transitioning into early learning and childcare, which would assist practitioners in supporting children, making childcare more affordable, simplifying the process of applying for parents and carers through the removal of requirement to reapply each year.
Another benefit is that children with siblings at the same setting will be given a place.
This is to support accessibility due to Aberdeenshire’s geography and the challenges in accessing public transport in remote rural areas.
The £240,000 cost of introducing an additional term would be met through Early Learning and Childcare funding from the Scottish Government.
Aberdeenshire Council’s director of education and children’s services, Laurence Findlay, said: “In Aberdeenshire we provide high quality, flexible early learning and childcare that is accessible and affordable for all families.
"This additional term and the removal of the requirement to reapply each year will give parents and carers even greater flexibility when deciding what childcare arrangements work best for them.”
Interim head of service (resources and performance management) Anne Marie Davies MacLeod said: “I would like to commend the early years team on the continued success of the roll out of 1140 in Aberdeenshire.
"I am also grateful for the support provided by fully funded providers and other childcare settings in making the 1140 hours of fully funded early learning and childcare accessible and affordable for parents and carers across Aberdeenshire.”
